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Get more from your shiny box of joy: Taking Apple TVs to the next levelThu, 26 Mar 2015 18:00:36 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Apple’s new patent suggests gesture-based 3D interface for Apple TVhttp://www.appletvhacks.net/2015/01/18/apple-patent-new-3d-ui-interface-gesture-apple-tv/
http://www.appletvhacks.net/2015/01/18/apple-patent-new-3d-ui-interface-gesture-apple-tv/#commentsSun, 18 Jan 2015 16:53:08 +0000http://www.appletvhacks.net/?p=8447Visit What's on iPhone for the best iPad and iPhone app reviews!Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!
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We’ve been hearing rumors of a gesture-based interface for the Apple TV since Apple acquired PrimeSense, the company behind motion sensors for the Microsoft Kinect. We’ve also seen Apple applying for many patents regarding the same in the past but, we expected all of them to just disappear into the heaps of patents Apple frequently avails but never uses.

However, this non-tactile gesture-based UI might indeed become a reality, as indicated by the brush-ups Apple has been doing recently. Last month, Apple reassigned the patents for the PrimeSense motion detecting hardware to its name. And a couple of days back, Cupertino was granted a new patent for a software built to work alongside this hardware.

This is what we know about the patent named “Three dimensional user interface session control”. Apple’s sensors will use infrared rays to track your hand movement in 3D, meaning in x-axis (when you move you hand to right or left), y-axis (raise or lower your hand) and even z-axis (towards or away from the sensor).

Users will be able to make simple hand gestures like waving to interact with the interface. One example illustrated in the application shows a swipe-up movement to unlock the device (image on top).

The artwork portrays a computer in the center but can be used by the Apple TV, the Apple television set or even the future Macs and iPhones. The patent gets a bit detailed about how the interface would work in various scenarios. If you’re interested, you can go through this detailed analysis by Apple Insider.

Unlike the patents that we usually see, the fact that Apple is actively refreshing and adding to this technology is some clue that they’re indeed moving on with this concept. Maybe we won’t see an Apple TV with 3D gesture control this year, but it would surely be something to look forward to in the later versions of our favorite set-top box.

Together with a German tech blog Curved.de, Martin Hajek, a popular 3D designer, has worked out a concept design of a next Apple set-top box – an Apple TV touch, on which we reported a few days back. The highlight of this concept was a new, completely redesigned touch-based remote. Leter on, Hajek added a new, different concept of a remote – he turned it into a “true gaming controller”. This is how it might look like.

It’s been a long time since the name XBMC echoed through our corridors. Apple TV 2 owners can start their celebrations as XBMC has released the Beta 1 of their next major update, v. 13.0. After Eden and Frodo, they’ve come up with Gotham as their codename, just to make sure it’ll never get unnoticed by movie fans.

Let’s see what XBMC 13.0 Gotham brings new to the table.

Support for 3D movies: SBS, TAB, anaglyph and interlaced formats are supported but not 3D BluRays

Improved UPnP capabilities: you can now send videos from your tablet or phone to your TV similar to AirPlay or Chromcast

Better user experience with improved settings : categorisation of settings from beginner to expert, comprehensive descriptions with each setting and a ‘Reset to default’ button, in case you mess things up

Various visual changes throughout the skin which should improve usability and logic

Numerous minor features and bug fixes

I have mentioned only the features relevant to Apple TV users here and in brief. You can read the complete changelog for Gotham here.

Note that Gotham is still in beta, which means it is not free from bugs yet and the public release is still some time away.

Soon, we will have a tutorial on how to install XBMC 13.0 Gotham on the Apple TV.

XBMC and Apple TV

For those who’ve no idea what I’m talking about, here is a little light on the context. XBMC is the major reason why most Apple TVs are jailbroken. It is basically an open-source software media player which can be used to browse and play videos, songs or pictures from your hard disk, network server or even the internet. It is available for all linux based devices, iOS, Mac, Android and PC and supports third party add-ons and skins/themes which makes it quite popular among its users.

Don’t be surprised, we told you so. Apple had been reported to be in the acquisition talks with the Israeli 3D sensor company for quite some time and now, it is official. PrimeSense has joined the long list of firms in Apple’s acqui-hiring spree.

The first reports came way back in July by Israeli media Calcalist and was speculated to be tagged at about 280 million. Last week, the same guys hottened the rumors with a speculated 345 million on table. Apple kept mum on the subject and PrimeSense even dared to dismiss the matter but we knew, we couldn’t trust the official words. As per one of yesterday’s news article on Globes, the deal is now closed.

According to various sources, including AllThingsD, Apple has responded to the news with a rather vague explanation. Apple’s spokesperson Kristin Huguet said in a telephone interview, “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans“. The real confirmation came from the other side according to Reuters, when a PrimeSense representative said, “We can confirm the deal with Apple. Further than that, we cannot comment at this stage“.

So what does that mean for Apple’s future devices? PrimeSense as you might be familiar with, is a 3D sensor provider, and was behind the original Microsoft Kinect. On the other hand, Apple has also prepared their own ideas for motion detection, as evident from the above patent. We can see that this particular image shows the living room as the sensors’ detection area and a television as the source of the sensor. With the rumors of Apple’s own television set getting hotter and hotter, we can hope that an iTV with smart gesture controls is on the road map.

But unlike the initial bulky sensor, PrimeSense has come alot way to reach a highly compact and portable design. It makes us wonder, whether the iPhone and iPad will also get their own piece from this deal. Only time will tell.

Apple has always had this thing for acqui-hiring established companies for their future products and patents, rather than starting things from scratch. They did it with Siri and countless others till the recent taking over of flash storage maker Anobit in Israel.

Now, the same source which reported the latter news, have some info on Apple’s latest venture. According to the Israeli media Calcalist, Apple has acquired PrimeSense, the 3D sensor providers for Microsoft Kinect. You might remember one of our earlier posts where we discussed a similar rumor in July. Though the news was later declined by the representatives, official declarations in such secret deals often doesn’t carry much truth. This is proved by the more compelling reports flowing in now. As per the new reports, PrimeSense was acquired by Cupertino for about $345M as opposed to the previously speculated $280M.

Apple has already patented their own 3D sensing and imaging platform as seen in the above picture and this PrimeSense acquisition is probably aimed at boosting or hastening their plans. On the other hand, age old rumors of Apple’s own television set are getting hotter and hotter. Reading things together, we can expect/hope Apple to release the speculated iTV soon. And that too, with gesture controls and movement tracking like in Kinect or something entirely different with Apple’s own charm, one can never tell!

As expected, PrimeSense has again decided to keep us in the dark with the below reply to TheNextWeb’s query.

PrimeSense is the leading 3D technology in the market. We are focused on building a prosperous company while bringing 3D sensing and Natural Interaction to the mass market in a variety of markets such as interactive living room and mobile devices. We do not comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and we do not relate to rumors or re-cycled rumors.

]]>http://www.appletvhacks.net/2013/11/18/3d-sensor-company-primesense-reportedly-acquired-by-apple/feed/0Apple rumored to be in acquisition talks with 3D sensor company behind Xbox Kinecthttp://www.appletvhacks.net/2013/07/17/apple-rumored-to-be-in-acquisition-talks-with-3d-sensor-company-behind-xbox-kinect/
http://www.appletvhacks.net/2013/07/17/apple-rumored-to-be-in-acquisition-talks-with-3d-sensor-company-behind-xbox-kinect/#commentsWed, 17 Jul 2013 16:53:25 +0000http://www.appletvhacks.net/?p=4413Visit What's on iPhone for the best iPad and iPhone app reviews!Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!
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Before I say anything, you need to see the above video. I swear, it’s awesome.

So that’s a promo video of the Israeli company PrimeSense. This is how they imagine future would be, thanks to the awesome 3D sensing technology they have devised. If you think this technology is years away, you’re mistaken. The first implementation of the technology was seen in the Microsoft Kinect and seemed to work very well.

And, Apple is rumored to be in acquisition talks with PrimeSense. Representatives from this 3D pioneers have been reported to be frequently visiting Cupertino. Our doubts are tightened when we remember the patents Apple filed recently on a similar front.

Seth Feigerman from PrimeSense has denied these rumors. But if past is any guide, such declarations are as good as nothing.

Apple will surely be looking to get their hands on the fresh technologies before its too late. Maybe a few years down the road, we’ll see an Apple TV doing the things in the above video.

Rumors have been swirling for nigh on a year now about what would come to pass when Apple finally delivers its television. Not that the Apple TV is any slouch mind you, but visions of a fully integrated Apple HDTV have had experts and fanboys alike drooling. News about a possible release schedule and what could be expected of this hardware has been slow to nonexistent in recent months leaving many people filling that informational void with speculation. One particularly juicy daydream was just delivered by our friend over at The Verge and we simply had to pass it on. So here is one die-hard’s dream of the perfect Apple TV.

The goal is to explore what would be possible if the software manufacturers and the cable providers could hold hands and work together. After all, the HDTV technology today has plenty of punch behind it, but 2K or 3K resolutions wouldn’t mean a thing unless there was a way for subscription-focused live internet streaming to link without limitations to Apple’s superior content delivery system. So the Apple TV would seamlessly integrate with all of our mobile devices, while maintaining a more friendly relationship with non-apple products as well.

When it comes to hardware, it’s obvious what should go on the ‘must’ list. You’ve got to have Bluetooth and AirPlay, as well as integrated WiFi technology that passes muster. That beautiful HD quality FaceTime camera and software should make an appearance, as well as 3D technology if they can get it right (which means losing the terrible glasses, of course). Resolution should bottom out at 1080p, and outputs should include USB, Optical Audio, HDMI and Apple’s new Thunderbolt. That will allow for an expanded hard drive, though inclusion of a DVR with at least 1TB of storage should be in the conversation.

Of course, FaceTime won’t be the only iOS App to make an appearance. What would be perfect is a fullscreen App store, where you could buy and utilize many of the apps that make the iPhone, iPod and iPad so fantastic. But you would also be able to download one-click access to the various players you most frequently use (Hulu Plus, VUDU, Netflix, etc.) AND to purchase subscriptions to pay cable networks. Ideally you’d be able to pick a monthly or yearly subscription to ShowTime or AMC, while also paying for membership to HBO Go or one of the other fantastic cable streaming sites.

As with your other Apple hardware, the Apple TV would certainly utilize Spotlight for searching. But in our ideal device it would be able to search not only your library’s content, but anything available on iTunes, within an app Store, or upcoming in a TV guide listing. That way you’d immediately see any free and paid options. If Siri was integrated to help remind you of subscribed shows or TV Guide alerts, that would just be the icing on the cake.

And as far as that TV guide is concerned, the closer the resemblance to our app screen the better. All the channels could be listed vertically, with click-through descriptions. The guide would cleanly integrate with iTunes, so you could see all upcoming releases the same way. Previews would be available for all movies (as on Apple Trailers), and anything you bring to the party through an external drive would upload to the same guide and be visually cataloged.

Is all of this probable, or even possible? Who really knows. This is the Apple TV that will live in our dreams until we are given one in real life. It’s going to take Apple becoming more willing to accept non-Apple products, and the cable providers choosing the joy of the user over maximizing advertising profits. If you think it’s probably not going to happen, you can dream at least. It’s what Steve Jobs would have wanted.

That’s right, folks! No longer do we have to stream Netflix movies or mirror our Angry Birds from the iPhone to our Apple TV in that ridiculous 2D! It is time to go 3D! What’s that, you hate 3D glasses? That’s okay. With Stream TV we are going glasses-free 3D! According to a story from the great team at Macworld, Stream TV Networks, who develop glasses-free 3D technology for TV sets, announced that they are enabling Apple TV users to beam Apple TV content or the content from our other iOS devices to the 3D TVs using the company’s Ultra-D autostereoscopic technology.

This is to say, Stream TV Network will be encoding our 2D content into 3D in real time, with no loss in clarity/quality, or so they claim:

The technology combines an optical lens on a panel and a software and hardware layer to convert high-definition images into a format suitable for glasses-free 3D TVs.

For example, users can stream Netflix movies through Apple TV, and the Ultra-D software layer does the 2D-to-3D conversion into a format suitable for the glasses-free 3D TV.

Now, we have not seen any physical proof of these claims ourselves but it sounds quite promising. Martin Rajan, CEO of the company, says that, “a lot of the major players are banging on our door to add this technology to their products.” Beyond this Rajan goes on to say that they can, and will if necessary, expand to Android devices, Blackberry, and Symbian.

Glasses-free 3D TVs with Ultra-D are not available yet. Stream Networks is now making the Ultra-D technology available to TV makers. The first Ultra-D TVs may come later this year.

According to the report from Macworld:

Glasses-free 3D TVs are not widely available yet, with only a few companies like Toshiba releasing products. Autostereoscopic TVs remain the next big goal in 3D TVs, and companies such as Sony and Samsung have demonstrated prototype TVs, but there have been issues around effectively splitting images between the right and left eyes at the same time for the right 3D effect. Stream TV has tried to overcome the issues with a combination of hardware and software.

3D TVs are gaining popularity, but the inconvenience of wearing 3D glasses remains a hindrance to its growth. Shipments of 3D LCD TV panels totaled 7.8 million in the fourth quarter of last year, up from 26 percent compared to the same quarter in 2010, according to NPD DisplaySearch. The research firm said that 3D TV panel shipments could total 50 million units this year, a 21.6 percent penetration rate of all LCD panels shipped.